Quick connect fence post

ABSTRACT

A fence post with a quick connect latch for connecting a fence wire to it. The fence post is an elongated post ( 12 ) with a plurality of oblique studs ( 14 ) positioned in various combinations molded vertically on the fence post or connected together by a base bar ( 22 ) applied vertically to the fence post. Each oblique stud ( 14 ) protrudes outward, slanting, narrowing toward an outer edge ( 16 ) where a pin hole ( 18 ) is located. Further including a pin ( 20 ) elongated in shape and bent at one end.

BACKGROUND

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] This invention relates to steel fence posts, specifically to such posts which are used for connecting a fence wire to it.

[0003] 2. Description of Prior Art

[0004] Consumers use steel fence posts for connecting fence wire to the post. Agricultural consumers use barb wire to contain livestock. Hog wire, chicken wire and construction wire are some of the other styles of fence wire used by various consumers.

[0005] Currently, the method used to connect a fence wire to a steel post uses a piece of tying wire. This old obsolete method is void of a latch feature. The oblique studs located on the steel posts do not have a pin that slides through a pin hole. Currently, the tying wire wraps around the fence wire and steel post, then tied with a pair of pliers. The fence wire is snugly braced to the steel post. Using the piece of tying wire consumes time and is tedious to manipulate the tie.

[0006] Loose tying wire causes barb wire to vertically slide up or down the steel post. The barb wire slides between the widely spaced oblique studs or over the oblique studs. Vertical sliding creates uneven distance between other strands of wire exposing space for livestock to crawl through.

[0007] Barb wire is difficult to stretch perpendicular past a steel post because the barbs snag up against the snug tying wire. These problems along with replacing a steel post or putting in a whole new fence line of posts restricts productivity due to the inefficiency of tying wire. My steel post with a quick connect latch feature eliminates the inefficient use of tying wire, but nevertheless current steel posts heretofore suffer from a number of disadvantages:

[0008] (a) Current steel posts use an old obsolete method of connecting fence wire that restricts productivity.

[0009] (b) Tying wire is required to wrap around the fence wire and steel post

[0010] (c) Using tying wire consumes time.

[0011] (d) Using tying wire to wrap around the fence wire and steel post as well as manipulating the tie is tedious.

[0012] (e) Loose tying wire causes barb wire to vertically slide up or down the steel post between the widely spaced oblique studs or to slide over the oblique studs causing unwanted, uneven distance between strands of fence wire.

[0013] (f) Barb wire is difficult to stretch perpendicular past the steel post because the barbs snag up against the snug tying wire.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

[0014] Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are:

[0015] (a) to provide a steel fence post that uses a simple method of connecting a fence wire to the post that enhances productivity;

[0016] (b) to provide a steel fence post with a quick connect latch feature;

[0017] (c) to provide a steel fence post that saves time connecting a fence wire to the post;

[0018] (d) to provide a steel fence post that uses a pin that slides through a pin hole on the oblique studs to secure a fence wire to the post making the connection easy;

[0019] (e) to provide a steel fence post that prevents a barb wire from sliding vertically up or down the post between the widely spaced oblique studs or from sliding over the oblique studs avoiding unwanted, uneven distance between strands of fence wire;

[0020] (f) to provide a steel fence post that allows a barb wire free perpendicular movement past the post when the wire is stretched.

[0021] Further objects and advantages are to provide a steel post with a quick connect latch feature that can quickly connect other styles of fence wire to the post besides barb wire. Other styles of fence wire such as hog wire, chicken wire or construction wire that can increase productivity when replacing steel posts or putting in new fence lines. Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

DRAWING FIGURES

[0022]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my invention with two oblique studs spaced close together located vertically on an elongated post where the oblique studs protrude outward, slanting, narrowing toward an outer edge where a pin hole is located on each oblique stud, further including a pin elongated in shape and bent at one end.

[0023]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of my invention of a similar elongated post with oblique studs having a continuous pattern of oblique studs without pin.

[0024]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of my invention of a similar elongated post with oblique studs having sets of two oblique studs grouped together without pin.

[0025]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of my invention of a similar elongated post with oblique studs having sets of three oblique studs grouped together without pin.

[0026]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of my invention with two oblique studs spaced close together connected together by a base bar located vertically on an elongated post where the oblique studs protrude outward, slanting, narrowing toward an outer edge where a pin hole is located on each oblique stud, further including a pin elongated in shape and bent at one end.

[0027]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of my invention of a similar elongated post with oblique studs connected together by base bar having a continuous pattern of oblique studs without pin.

[0028]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of my invention of a similar elongated post with oblique studs connected together by base bar having sets of two oblique studs grouped together without pin.

[0029]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of my invention of a similar elongated post with oblique studs connected together by base bar having sets of three oblique studs grouped together without pin.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

[0030]12 elongated post

[0031]14 oblique stud

[0032]16 outer edge

[0033]18 pinhole

[0034]20 pin

[0035]22 base bar

Description—FIGS. 1 to 8

[0036] One embodiment of the quick connect steel fence post with a latch feature is illustrated in FIG. 1 (perspective view). The fence post is an elongated post (12) of sufficient size, shape and made of steel. The latch feature has at least two oblique studs (14) spaced dose together located vertically on the elongated post (12). The oblique studs (14) are molded as part of the post and protrude outward, slanting, narrowing toward an outer edge (16) where a pin hole (18) is located on each oblique stud (14). Further including is a pin (20) elongated in shape, bent at one end and made of bendable steel.

[0037] There are various possibilities in regard to the combinations of the oblique studs (14) located on the elongated post (12). FIG. 2 (perspective view) illustrates a continuous pattern of oblique studs (14) spaced close together located on the elongated post (12). FIG. 3 perspective view) illustrates sets of two oblique studs (14) located on the elongated post (12) spaced apart. FIG. 4 (perspective view) illustrates sets of three oblique studs (14) located on the elongated post (12) spaced apart.

[0038] A second embodiment of the quick connect steel fence post with a latch feature is illustrated in FIG. 5 (perspective view). The fence post is an elongated post (12) of sufficient size, shape and made of steel. The latch feature has at least two oblique skids (14) spaced close together connected together by a base bar (22) located vertically on the elongated post (12). The oblique studs (14) connected together by base bar (22) protrudes outward, slanting, narrowing toward an outer edge (16) where a pin hole (18) is located on each oblique stud (14). The oblique studs (14) are molded to the base bar (22). The base bar (22) is molded to the elongated post (12). Further including is a pin (20) elongated in shape, bent at one end and made of bendable steel.

[0039] There are various possibilities in regard to the combinations of the oblique studs (14) connected together by base bar (22) located on the elongated post (12). FIG. 6 (perspective view) illustrates a continuous pattern of oblique studs (14) connected by base bar (22) spaced close together located on the elongated post (12). FIG. 7 (perspective view) illustrates sets of two oblique studs (14) connected together by base bar (22) spaced apart located on the elongated post (12). FIG. 8 (perspective view) illustrates sets of three oblique studs (14) connected by base bar (22) spaced apart located on the elongated post (12).

[0040] From the description above, a number of advantages of the quick connect fence post become evident:

[0041] (a) A quick connect method will increase productivity for the consumer.

[0042] (b) The use of tying wire will be eliminated.

[0043] (c) Connecting a fence wire to a fence post will be quick.

[0044] (d) Connecting a fence wire to a fence post using a pin that slides through a pin hole located on oblique studs will provide little effort.

[0045] (e) Equal distance between strands of barb wire will contain livestock within the fence line.

[0046] (f) Loosening a tying wire in order to stretch a strand of bar wire perpendicular past a fence post will be eliminated.

Operation—FIG. 1

[0047] The manner of using the quick connect fence post with the latch feature resembles the use of a latch. A fence wire is placed between two oblique studs (14) up against the elongated post (12). A pin (20) slides through the pin holes (18) located in each oblique stud (14).

Summary, Ramifications, and Scope

[0048] Accordingly, the reader will see that the quick connect latch feature located on the fence post is easy and quick to use. The quick connect fence post can be used to connect other styles offence wire to the fence post besides barb wire. Hog wire, chicken wire or construction wire can be used with the quick connect latch feature. In addition, replacing posts already in a fence line or putting in a whole new fence line of posts with wire can make working with the quick connect fence post a user-friendly experience. Furthermore, the quick connect fence post has additional advantages in that

[0049] it provides a productive method of connecting fence wire to a post;

[0050] it provides a quick connect device for connecting a fence wire to a fence post;

[0051] it permits the elimination of tying wire material;

[0052] it permits only the use of a pin that slides through a pin hole on oblique studs to secure a fence wire to a fence post;

[0053] it allows the prevention of barb wire from vertically sliding up or down a fence post by using closely spaced oblique studs and a pin eliminating unwanted, uneven distance between strands of fence wire;

[0054] it allows free perpendicular movement of a strand of barb wire past a fence post when the wire is stretched.

[0055] Although the description above contains specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention. For example, the elongated post can be made any size and be made of any material besides steel such as wood, plastic, rubber or other metal material depending on application; The oblique studs can be made any shape, size, angle and can be made of other material besides steel such as plastic, rubber or other metal material depending on application; the base bar can be made any shape, size and can be made of other material besides steel such as plastic, rubber or other metal material depending on application; the oblique studs can be molded to the base bar or attached to the base bar by being welded, bolted screwed or nailed; the oblique studs connected together by the base bar can be attached to the elongated post by being welded, bolted, screwed or nailed; the oblique studs located on the elongated post can be positioned in any combination; the pin holes in the oblique studs can be made any shape, size or angle; the pin can be made of any material and size.

[0056] Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 

We claim a quick connect fence post comprising:
 1. A elongated post of sufficient size and shape.
 2. The elongated post of claim 1 wherein is made of steel.
 3. A quick connect latch means of sufficient size and shape located on said elongated post for quickly connecting a fence wire to said elongated post whereby little effort and time is required.
 4. The quick connect latch means of claim 3 further including having a plurality of oblique studs located vertically on said elongated post where said oblique studs protrude outward, slanting, narrowing toward an outer edge where a pin hole is located on each said oblique stud, further including a pin.
 5. The oblique studs of claim 4 further including having a continuous pattern of said oblique studs located on said elongated post.
 6. The oblique studs of claim 4 further including having sets of a plurality of said oblique studs located on said elongated post.
 7. The oblique studs of claim 6 further including having sets of two said oblique studs located on said elongated post.
 8. The oblique studs of claim 6 further including having sets of three sad oblique studs located on said elongated post.
 9. The pin of claim 4 wherein is elongated and bent at one end.
 10. The quick connect latch means of claim 3 further including having a plurality of oblique studs connected together by a base bar located vertically on said elongated post where said oblique studs protrude outward, slanting, narrowing toward an outer edge where a pin hole is located on each said oblique stud, further including a pin.
 11. The oblique studs of claim 10 ambler including having a continuous pattern of said oblique studs connected together by said base bar located on said elongated post.
 12. The oblique studs of claim 10 further including having sets of a plurality of said oblique studs connected together by said base bar located on said elongated post.
 13. The oblique studs of claim 12 further including having sets of two said oblique studs connected together by said base bar located on said elongated post.
 14. The oblique studs of claim 12 further including having sets of three said oblique studs connected together by said base bar located on said elongated post.
 15. The pin of claim 10 wherein is elongated and bent at one end. 